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USGBC Report Highlights Green-Policy Advancements in the United States

A free report highlighting actions states are taking to transform the green-building market is available from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The report, "Advancing Green Building Policy in the States: 2011 Victories From Alabama to Wyoming," "is a goldmine of creative approaches to driving a green economy, where superefficient buildings become the norm, rather than the exception," Roger Platt, senior vice president of global policy and law, USGBC, said. "Given the public's demand that government do more with less, well-targeted investments at the state level can actually inspire innovation, unlock efficiency, and promote public health, all while creating and maintaining jobs."

• A "cool schools" bill in Oregon that allows the state to repair and retrofit aging schools to reduce operational costs, create jobs, and promote human and environmental health.

• A bill in Connecticut establishing the nation's first state-managed "green bank," the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, which leverages government dollars to provide financing for clean-energy and efficiency projects across the state.

• A new law in New York establishing a revolving-loan fund enabling property owners to access financing for retrofits and energy-efficiency upgrades and to repay the loan with savings earned on utility bills.

• An act enabling the adoption of a national model green-building code by all local governments in Maryland.